Faith and Homeschooling

When we first decided that we were going to start homeschooling we had a lot to think about. Actually I should say me since I am the parent who handles all of the teaching. I knew that I wanted to add in their culture when I was preparing lessons and such but what about our faith? I mean they go to Catechism so should I add anything else in? Was that enough? I am sure it is the question that all homeschool parents ask themselves when they start as well.

I did research and then finally decided that I wanted to add in bible study and lessons. Since I am a Catechism teacher myself I knew that I could teach Catholic lessons with little trouble but I also knew that I didn’t want to teach all of the Catechism classes over again to them. Both of my school aged children have already gone through my class at church. So I sat down and began deciding where I would introduce our faith within their lessons. After all Science and Faith don’t always agree but I knew that I wanted to teach Science the way I learned it.

The reason was simple, I felt it was important to understand both Science and Faith separately and then discuss where they overlap or even disagree. I want my children to have all the theories and facts there are and then be able to make up their own minds as they grow. It was important to me that my children be able to grow as free thinkers without a lot of my influence on their decisions (within reason of course.) So I knew that when I was teaching I had to take on the role of teacher and not mom. I admit the first two years was really hard and then we actually sent them to public school for one year. That was difficult for them because they were actually doing things we had already done the prior year.

What I discovered is that faith and homeschool can go easily hand in hand. You just have to make it work for your family.

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Comments

I totally agree, no different than sending our children to school and have the teacher teach a subject that they aren’t qualified to teach, I have so many mixed emotions about this subject..even having my child in a catholic school brings up so many conversations because like I said teachers aren’t qualified to teach the Catholic faith..some don’t even know what they are talking about..this should be left for Sunday school or to a qualified teacher..they just left my children confused.

I can get frustrating even for me sometimes. That is why I am so grateful to have the group of parents that we belong to. Everyone teaches their strengths so that we all know our children are getting the best they can from us.

I think that’s wonderful that you found a way to make it blend together so that you can cover both subjects. We try to make sure our kids understand both the science and the religious sides. My husband is very science minded so it was important that we can include both, It is hard to explain to another person how you can believe, when they want to get all scientific on you. That’s why I think you are doing a great thing. Also between you and me, I don’t think it hurts to reteach some of the lessons from Catechism classes. I swear there are times I think I missed so much in my Catechism classes.

Between you and me I think I missed some classes as well. I swear when I am planning my lessons each week and going through my teacher’s book I think “I don’t remember this at all!” I agree about teaching both, I think that it is important to understand science and what it provides us but to also have a firm grasp on faith and it brings us.

We are on our third year of homeschooling after a couple years of public schooling and we have grown organically through the years. We just had our 10th child last week, and I love the freedom homeschooling affords us. I realized that I wanted to teach my children ALL of history, not just what the school books tell us. How can one teach history and leave out some of the most important history of all time? I love that my kids can chase their passions and learn at their own pace. I love that I can be there to answer the tough questions that they may otherwise ask another peer (and get the wrong answers) I love that my kids can be who they are, without fear of ‘not fitting in.’ Kudos to you on your path to homeschooling. I feel like homeschooling has allowed us to grow closer as a family, and also has allowed my kids to flourish without fear.

I could agree more! There are so many things that public school no longer teaches and some are things I feel are so important. I want my children to know and understand the things they learn. Not just know how to locate the information on the internet.

I had never considered homeschooling either of my children because it simply was not an option. I admire those that do home school their children. I’m sure it takes a lot of planning, patience and time. I would definitely want to have faith based lessons if I did home school.

Our kids were never homeschooled and I can say that I also believe a lot of information about history and social science is not included in the current ciruculums. that upsets me but then hat is so political and know there is so much control over what is taught today. And of course now not many parts of “religion” is taught in schools. In fact it is usually completely shut out and science trumps the origin of man even. So, I’d be like you too. It IS hard to teach kids anything, whether a teacher or not, without supplying them with your values and ideals too. It’s a great idea to get them to be their own thinker…and while internet is often hard to sort out, I am happy that today the kids are not relegated to ONLY read the pages of certain books the schools supply, and CAN go out and find a lot of information about things NOT taught in our school books. Thank goodness for facts and freedom of speech through writing. Often what they are not taught is the “other” side of the story many times and many times kids are told to not stand up to their OWN ideals, and not just the teacher’s. My daughter had a teacher that was so crass and bold and controlling, he said GD a LOT in class. I was so upset but that was HIS freedom of speech in teaching. If a kid did that, they’d be expelled.